NORTHERN IRELAND
The unenviable job of seeking ways to restore Northern Ireland’s stalled political process is being advertised by the Northern Ireland Office with a salary of £117,000 (A$213,000).
The successful applicant, who will have the title of Deputy Political Strategy Director, will lead the Department’s efforts to restore a functioning devolved Executive, which has not sat at Stormont House (pictured) since a power-sharing agreement collapsed two years ago.
They will support meetings between political leaders in Northern Ireland and the UK and Irish Governments and develop policy proposals to “address outstanding issues”, the job advertisement said.
A great deal of work has already been done within Westminster and Whitehall to try to address challenges that have arisen since the January 2017 collapse.
The UK Government passed legislation last year to clarify the powers of the Northern Ireland Public Service, which has been struggling to determine how much authority it has to enact policies without Ministers in place.
The job advertisement calls for applicants who can demonstrate an “excellent understanding” of Northern Ireland’s political and constitutional system and who can deliver on important objectives in a “politically charged environment”.
They will be based either in Stormont House in Northern Ireland or in the Northern Ireland Office’s headquarters in London.
They will replace the current Deputy Director, who is moving to another position within the Department.
Belfast, 25 January 2019
